Jakarta BPBD mobilizes disaster preparedness team to anticipate floods

Following an early warning from the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) on Thursday, the Regional Disaster Mitigation Agency of Jakarta (BPBD) organized a disaster readiness team to prepare for probable floods in South Jakarta and East Jakarta.

Isnawa Adji, the director of the Jakarta BPBD, said in Jakarta on Thursday that “this measure is in conformity with the order from BNPB.”

Based on information from the Jakarta BPBD, 267 members of quick response teams are stationed in each village in Jakarta to keep an eye on the effects of the weather.

After the Jakarta BPBD has gathered information on human resources and evacuation supplies, participation from the community and other organizations is also required to aid in flood protection, Adji said.

The agency works to activate the standby team and resources, but it also keeps an eye on the most recent field conditions and broadcasts warnings about rainfall, water levels, and possible dangers of inundation regions.

He said that the Jakarta BPBD also gets refugee camps ready, including infrastructure for evacuation, in compliance with health norms, plans for logistics and equipment requirements, and aids in the evacuation of vulnerable populations.

Disaster Readiness

In line with the BNPB’s direction, his side also exhorts the neighborhood to put together a disaster readiness team by keeping an eye on the situation on the ground, working with village officials, and planning for evacuation.

Adji recommended that the neighborhood minimize outside activities, keep valuables in a secure location, stay away from billboards, huge trees, and drains.

They should also evacuate vulnerable populations, follow health regulations, and prepare a backup pack with food, drinks, medications, money, clothing, and essential papers.

The early warning followed the study of forecasts based on the effects of heavy rainfall in the areas of Jakarta, Bogor, Depok, Tangerang, and Bekasi (Jabodetabek) on Thursday by the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG).

According to the BMKG, West Jakarta, Central Jakarta, and North Jakarta are in the flood alert category, while South Jakarta and East Jakarta are in the full alert flood category.

The forecast will be from Thursday, October 13, from 7:00 a.m. until Friday, October 14, at 7:00 a.m.